Non-Citizen Immigrants Eligible For In-State Tuition

Undocumented immigrants that meet certain criteria still will be eligible for in-state tuition at Oklahoma public colleges, according to a policy adopted today by the State Regents for Higher Education, The Oklahoman reports today.

Students that have lived in Oklahoma for at least two years and graduate from high school will remain eligible for in-state tuition if they have filed an application with the federal government to legalize their immigration status. Those students will no longer be eligible for state-provided scholarships such as Oklahoma's Promise and the Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant.

Last year only 244 undocumented students attended Oklahoma colleges, mostly at Oklahoma City Community College and Tulsa Community College. While they cost the state $112,000 in tuition waivers and state aid, they contributed $238,785 in tuition and fees, said Rep. Shane Jett, R-Tecumseh.

"Whatever aid was given has been a minute part of the whole budget,” said Jett. "They do not take away seats from those students who are native-born.”

The new policy was necessary to comply with the state's new immigration law that takes effect November 1st and applies to colleges starting in the spring semesters, a spokesman said. Regents voted 5 to 1 in support of the policy, with three regents abstaining.

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